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The friendship experiment

Erin Teagan

Cover of The friendship experiment

The friendship experiment

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Erin Teagan

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The hum of lockers slamming and the chatter of new classmates fill the air as Madeline steps into sixth grade. Her carefully planned world, once as predictable as a science experiment, suddenly feels messy and confusing. Can Madeline discover the secret to fixing her tangled middle school life?

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction follows Madeline, a young aspiring scientist, as she navigates the challenges of starting sixth grade and adjusting to new social dynamics. The story thoughtfully explores themes of friendship, family, and the ups and downs of middle school life, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the realistic depiction of school experiences without intense conflict or mature content.

Why we rated The friendship experiment 9LE

The friendship experiment is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 740L across 244 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The friendship experiment works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The friendship experiment as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The friendship experiment explores friendship, family, schools, and science & nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, schools.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

244 pages
ISBN
9780544636224
Pages
244
Publisher
Clarion Books
Published
2016
Type
Fiction
Lexile
740L

Genres

Subjects

Middle SchoolsScientistsSchoolsFriendshipFamily LifeFamiliesAmitiéRomans, Nouvelles, Etc. Pour La JeunesseÉcoles MoyennesÉcolesFamillesSocial IssuesHealth & Daily LivingDiseases, Illnesses & InjuriesFamilySiblingsScience & TechnologyGirls & Women